Today in Research: Why It's So Hard to Keep the Weight Off; More

By The Atlantic Wire

Discovered: The science behind failed weight-loss methods; the truth about multivitamins; old people aren't slow, just careful; the one good thing about ulcers.

Why it's so hard to keep lost weight off. The Biggest Loser
has wowed us all with its transformational powers, turning obese humans
into skinny ones. It's inspirational, really. Diet and exercise do
work. But have you seen those contestants months after the show's end? They get fat again.
Or at least gain some of their weight back. Researchers have now
figured out why those who try so hard to lose weight gain it back. "What
we see here is a coordinated defense mechanism with multiple components
all directed toward making us put on weight," researcher Joseph
Proietto told The New York Times. "This, I think, explains the
high failure rate in obesity treatment." Translation: Dieting puts ones
body in a state, which, post-regimen, triggers a "post-dieting syndrome,"
making these people hungrier, fixated on food and unable to keep the weight off.
It's cruel. And no reward for starving and spinning classes. [The New York Times]

Old people aren't all that mentally slow. While talking to a grandparent, it might seem like their brains are getting
slower as they spew what you consider offensive political beliefs during
your weekly phone chats. But research says that's not so. Good news
for grandma: "At least in some situations, 70-year-olds may have
response times similar to those of 25-year olds," explains Ohio State
researcher Roger Ratcliff. When grandpa takes forever to write down a
message or type up an email, it's not because they're getting dumb,
found the research. It's just that they prefer to do tasks with care.
Not like your sloppy careless blogging bull-crap. [Eureka]